Advertising device



July .22, 1941. r c. R. WOOTEN 2,249,803

ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed Oct. 27, 1939 v 2 sh 1 T lr /4 j /4 5 Z 6 I i J J- x ,4. 'H m f A V H I 41? I ll 55 'I 52 I INVENTOR Cameo; A. h OW'EIV Patented July 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE ADVERTISING DEVICE Carrol R. Wooten, New York, N.'Y., assignor to Beech-Nut Packing Company, Canajoharie, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 27, 1939, Serial no. 301,600.

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to toy devices and has special reference to toys which may be used in toy circuses and the like for advertising purposes.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this character.

Another of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of this character which in operation closely simulates circus performers or acrobats performing on a tight-rope.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the device;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional elevation, taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 1 but on a larger scale and with parts broken away; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the portion of the device illustrated in Fig. 4. Y

The device as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a metal tube 2 which has its ends secured to and opening into hollow supporting posts, 4, the upper ends of which extend through apertures in an overhead support 6.

The tube 2 has an upwardly opening slot 8 extending lengthwise thereof. A cord H] which may be of flexible wire, extends through the tube 2 and through the upper portions of the hollow posts 4, the cord passing over sheaves II in said posts. From the upper ends of the posts 4 the cord passes over sheaves l2 mounted on brackets I4 on the top of the support 6, and the ends of the cord are fastened to the ends of a block Hi. This block 16 is mounted on a bolt o-r pin l8 which constitutes a pivot pin of a sprocket chain 28. This sprocket chain passes over sprocket wheels 22 that have their shafts 24 journaled in bearings on uprights 26 on the top of the support 6. The chain 20 is adapted to be driven from an electric motor 28 through a sprocket chain 38 which passes over a sprocket wheel driven by the motor and a sprocket wheel secured on one of the sprocket shafts 24.

With this construction, upon the sprocket chain 20 being driven, the block l6 and hence the flexible cord Ill will be carried back and forth a distance somewhat less than the distance between the two posts 4.

In the construction shown, a wheeled toy is mounted on the tubular member 2. This toy comprises two toy bicycles 32 having grooved wheels 34 which fit over the tubular member 2; The two bicycles may be connected to ether by a rod 36, and on each bicycle there is a rider 38. shown in the act of pedaling the bicycle. The feet of each rider may be connected through pedals 40, sprocket wheels 42 and chain 44 so that upon the bicycle being moved along the tubular member 2, the feet and pedals will operate similarly to a bicycle rider pedaling a bicycle.

On the bar 36 may be a small platform 46 supporting performers 48 as shown. Suspended from th frames of the bicycles substantially midway thereof, is a device in representation of a trapeze having horizontal bars 50 which are connected at their ends through rods 52 having their upper portions arranged at opposite sides of the tubular member and their upper ends secured to the frame 54 of each bicycle. The upper ends of the members 52 are bent inwardly and secured in an aperture in the bicycle frame 54.

Adjacent the upper side of the tubular member 2 is a cross-bar 56 which has its ends looped about and secured to the members 52 of each pair. The central portion of this cross-bar extends through a U-shaped strap or clip 58 secured to the cord l0 and extending through the slot 8 of the member 2.

The cross-bars 50 are shown supporting a trapeze performer 60. The performer 60 is weighted so as to, counterbalance the weight of the device supported above the tubular member 2, and this maintains the device in vertical position on the tubular member.

With this construction, upon the cord It] being moved back and forth through connection with the electric motor 28, the device supported by the tubular member 2 is moved back and forth between the posts 4. Owing to the small size of the tubular member 2 and the balancing of the bicycles and performers on the tubular member which causes them to sway more or less as they move back and forth, a life-like simulation is effected of acrobats performing on a tight rope.

The device is especially adapted for use in a toy circus and may through electrical connections with the driving motor be thrown into and out of operation in timed relation with other devices of the circus.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, my invention permits various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a tubular member having an upwardly opening slot extending longitudinally, thereof, means for suspending said member by its ends, a cord extending through said tubular member adapted to slide lengthwise therethrough, a toy mounted to ride on said tubularmember over said slot, means extending through the slot in the tubular member for connecting the toy with said cord to cause the toy to travel with the cord, and counterbalg ancing means depending from the toy for maintogether having grooved Wheels adapted to ride taining the toy in vertical position on thetubular" member.

2. In a device of the class described, a tubular member having an upwardly opening slot extend- 1 ing lengthwise thereof, hollow vertical posts for suspending said member by its ends, a come tending through said tubular member and upwardly through the posts, a toy mounted to ride 'onfsaid tubular member over said slot, means extending through the slot in the tubular member 'for connecting the toy with said cord to cause the toy to travel With the cord, counterbalancing means depending from the toy for on the tubular member, a toy trapeze suspended from the frames of said bicycles comprising horizontal bars, rods connecting the ends of the bars with the frames of the bicycles, each pair of rods being arranged at opposite sides of the tubular member, *and means connecting said cordiwith said rods to cause the wheeled toy and the trapeze device to be carried by the cord as the cord is moved through the tubular member, said trapeze device being Weighted to maintain the Wheeled toy in vertical position on the tubular member.

' CARROL R. WOOTEN. 

